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Utah

Level 1

A public utility must use the Level 1 review procedures for an application to interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following requirements:

(a) The small generator facility is inverter-based;

(b) The small generator facility must have a nameplate capacity of 25 kilowatts or less; and

Certifications
Pursuant to R746-312-5, the following certification requirements need to be met to qualify for the Level 1 and the level 2 interconnection review procedures.

(1) To qualify for the Level 1 and the Level 2 interconnection review procedures set forth below, a generating facility must be certified as complying with the following standards, as applicable:

(a) IEEE standards; and

(b) UL 1741 Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems (January 2001).

(2) An equipment package will be considered certified for interconnected operation if it has been submitted by a manufacturer to a nationally recognized testing and certification laboratory, and has been tested and listed by the laboratory for continuous interactive operation with an electric distribution system in compliance with relevant codes and standards.

(3) If the equipment package has been tested and listed in accordance with this section as an integrated package, which includes a generator or other electric source, the equipment package will be deemed certified, and the public utility may not require further design review, testing or additional equipment.

(4) If the equipment package includes only the interface components (switchgear, inverters, or other interface devices), an interconnection customer must show that the generator or other electric source being utilized with the equipment package is compatible with the equipment package and consistent with the testing and listing specified for the package. If the generator or electric source being utilized with the equipment package is consistent with the testing and listing performed by the nationally recognized testing and certification laboratory, the equipment package will be deemed certified, and the public utility may not require further design review, testing or additional equipment.

Application
Interconnection Customer must submit the following for a valid application to receive a queue number:

• Original signed application with all applicable fields completed.
• Application fee $100.
• Demonstration of site control. Specifically, PacifiCorp requires documentation reasonably demonstrating ownership, right to develop, option to purchase, leasehold or an exclusivity or business relationship between the Interconnection Customer and the person/company owning the property that gives the Interconnection Customer the right to construct a Generating Facility on the land. If Interconnection Customer owns the land, the most recent property tax receipt for the location would be an acceptable form of site control.

 Level 1 Application

Interconnection Study Process
The public utility verifies that the Small Generating Facility can be interconnected safely and reliably using the screens contained in the Level 1 Process in the State of Utah, Public Service Commission Electrical Interconnection procedures, Utah Generator Interconnection Procedures (“UGIP”). Please refer to section R746-312-7.

• The study will take fifteen 15 Business Days to complete.
• Should the customer fail the study, they must resubmit their application under Level 2 or 3 rules along with the appropriate fees and technical data, if required, to continue with the requested interconnection of the proposed generation facility.

Interconnection Agreement
After passing the Level 1 Interconnection Review, an interconnection agreement will be submitted to interconnection customer.
 

 Utah Interconnection Agreement
 

Level 2

1. A public utility must use the Level 2 interconnection review procedures for an application to interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following requirements:

(a) The small generator facility does not qualify for or failed to meet the Tier 1 interconnection review requirements;
(b) The small generator facility must have a nameplate capacity of two megawatts or less;

Certifications
Pursuant to R746-312-5, the following certification requirements need to be met to qualify for the Level 1 and the level 2 interconnection review procedures.

(1) To qualify for the Level 1 and the Level 2 interconnection review procedures set forth below, a generating facility must be certified as complying with the following standards, as applicable:

(a) IEEE standards; and
(b) UL 1741 Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems (January 2001).

(2) An equipment package will be considered certified for interconnected operation if it has been submitted by a manufacturer to a nationally recognized testing and certification laboratory, and has been tested and listed by the laboratory for continuous interactive operation with an electric distribution system in compliance with relevant codes and standards.

(3) If the equipment package has been tested and listed in accordance with this section as an integrated package, which includes a generator or other electric source, the equipment package will be deemed certified, and the public utility may not require further design review, testing or additional equipment.

(4) If the equipment package includes only the interface components (switchgear, inverters, or other interface devices), an interconnection customer must show that the generator or other electric source being utilized with the equipment package is compatible with the equipment package and consistent with the testing and listing specified for the package. If the generator or electric source being utilized with the equipment package is consistent with the testing and listing performed by the nationally recognized testing and certification laboratory, the equipment package will be deemed certified, and the public utility may not require further design review, testing or additional equipment.

Application
Interconnection Customer must submit the following for a valid application to receive a queue number:

• Original signed application with all applicable fields completed.
• Application fee $50 plus $1.00 per kW of generation facility. 
• Demonstration of site control. Specifically, PacifiCorp requires documentation reasonably demonstrating ownership, right to develop, option to purchase, leasehold or an exclusivity or business relationship between the Interconnection Customer and the person/company owning the property that gives the Interconnection Customer the right to construct a Generating Facility on the land. If Interconnection Customer owns the land, the most recent property tax receipt for the location would be an acceptable form of site control.

 Level 2 Application

Interconnection Study Process
The public utility verifies that the Small Generating Facility can be interconnected safely and reliably using the screens contained in the Level 2 Process in the State of Utah, Public Service Commission Electrical Interconnection procedures, Utah Generator Interconnection Procedures (“UGIP”). Please refer to section R746-312-7.

• The study will take fifteen 15 Business Days to complete.
• Should the customer fail the study, they must resubmit their application under Level 2 or 3 rules along with the appropriate fees and technical data, if required, to continue with the requested interconnection of the proposed generation facility.

Interconnection Agreement
After passing the Level 1 Interconnection Review, an interconnection agreement will be submitted to interconnection customer.

 Utah Interconnection Agreement
 

Level 3

1. A public utility must use the Level 3 interconnection review procedures for an application to interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following requirements:

(a) The small generator facility does not qualify for or failed to meet the Level 1, Or Level 2 interconnection review requirements; and
(b) The small generator facility must have a nameplate capacity of greater than 2 megawatts but no larger than 20 megawatts

Application
Interconnection Customer must submit the following for a valid application to receive a queue number:

• Original signed application with all applicable fields completed.
• Application fee $100 plus $2.00 per kW of generation facility.
• Demonstration of site control. Specifically, PacifiCorp requires documentation reasonably demonstrating ownership, right to develop, option to purchase, leasehold or an exclusivity or business relationship between the Interconnection Customer and the person/company owning the property that gives the Interconnection Customer the right to construct a Generating Facility on the land. If Interconnection Customer owns the land, the most recent property tax receipt for the location would be an acceptable form of site control.

 Level 3 Application
 

Scoping Meeting
Once the application is deemed complete a scoping meeting will be scheduled to discuss the project within 10 business days. The public utility and the Interconnection Customer may agree to waive the scoping meeting requirement.

Interconnection Study Process

Feasibility Study
The Feasibility Study Report is an optional study the Interconnection Customer can request. Should the Interconnection Customer decide to skip this study they would be required to complete the System Impact Study. If the Feasibility Study is required, it must be completed prior to the System Impact Study, the Facility Study and Interconnection Agreement.

• The study deposit is the lesser of 50 % of the good faith estimate of the costs or earnest money of $1,000.
• The estimated cost to complete the study is between $5,000 - $10,000. The balance of the study cost will be invoiced upon completion of the study.
• The study will take thirty 30 Business Days to complete.

Scope
The interconnection Feasibility Study shall provide a preliminary evaluation of the system impact which would result from interconnecting the generating facility and a high level estimated cost of interconnecting the generating facility to the public utility’s electric distribution system and shall include the following components:

• Initial identification of any circuit breaker short circuit capability limits exceeded as a result of the interconnection;
• Initial identification of any thermal overload or voltage limit violations resulting from the interconnection;
• Initial review of grounding requirements and electric system protection; and
• Description and non-binding estimated cost of facilities required to interconnect the proposed Generating facility and to address the identified short circuit and power flow issues.

 Feasibility Study Agreement

System Impact Study
If the System Impact Study is required, it must be completed prior to the Facility Study and Interconnection Agreement.

• The study deposit is the good faith estimate of the costs to complete the study.
• The estimated cost to complete the study is between $10,000 - $15,000.
• The study will take thirty 30 Business Days to complete.

Scope
The interconnection system impact study shall provide details on the impacts to the electric distribution system which would result if the generating facility were interconnected without modifications to either the generating facility or to the electric distribution system. Pursuant to R746-312-10 (2) (i), the system impact study will include the following:

(A) provide details on the impacts to the electric distribution system which would result if the generating facility were interconnected without modifications to either the generating facility or to the electric distribution system;
(B) identify any modifications to the public utility's electric distribution system necessary to accommodate the proposed interconnection;
(D) focus on power flows and utility protective devices, including control requirements; and
(E) include the following elements, as applicable:

• a load flow study;
• a short-circuit study;
• a circuit protection and coordination study;
• the impact on the operation of the electric distribution system;
• a stability study, along with the conditions that would justify including this element in the impact study;
• a voltage collapse study, along with the conditions that would justify including this element in the impact study; and
• additional elements, if justified by the public utility and approved in writing by the public utility and the interconnection customer prior to the impact study.

 System Impact Study Agreement

Facilities Study
If the Facility Study is a required study, it must be completed prior to signing the Interconnection Agreement.

• The study deposit is the good faith estimate of the costs to complete the study.
• The estimated cost to complete the study is between $10,000 - $15,000.
• The study will take thirty 30 - 45 Business Days to complete.

Scope
The interconnection facilities study shall specify a non-binding good faith cost estimate of the equipment, engineering, procurement and construction work (including overheads) needed to implement the conclusion of the system impact study(s) in order for the interconnection customer to safely interconnect the generating facility with the public utility's electric distribution system and the time required to build and install those facilities.

 Facilities Study Agreement
 

Interconnection Agreement
Upon completion of the required studies, the Public Utility shall provide the Interconnection Customer an executable interconnection agreement within five (5) Business Days.

 Utah Interconnection Agreement

Standards
This PacifiCorp Generation Interconnection Policy explains the technical requirements for interconnection of generators to PacifiCorp's distribution power systems. It is based on applicable rules and tariffs crafted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and jurisdictional state regulatory agencies. In addition to providing reliability, this policy is consistent with safety requirements for PacifiCorp employees and the general public.

 View policy